Automatically-closing valve.



PATENTED JAN. 29, 1907.

T. H. WALKER.

AUTOMATIGALLY CLOSING VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.18, 1905.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 1.

witnesses: 7/1" mi? No. 842,279. PATENTED JAN. 29, 1907. T. H. WALKER. AUTOMATIGALLY CLOSING VALVE.

APPLICATION .FILED 0013.18. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HNS

UNITED STATES PEN'r OFFICE.A

THOMAS H. WALKER, OF KANSAS (J'IY, MISSOURI.

AUTOMATICALLY-CLOSING VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 29, 1907.

Application led October 18, 1.905. Serial No. 283,269.

. apparatus for automatically cutting off the flow of fluid through a conductor in case of leakage in said conductor or in the event that the discharge-passage of the conductor has been unintentionally left open.

My invention is particularly well adapted for use in connection with the Water-supply system of a house, its function in such connection being to shut off the water from the service-pipes in case of leakageor in the event thatl a faucet has'been left turned on.

The novel features of my invention are' hereinafter fully described and claimed..

In the accompanying drawings, illustrative of my invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation view of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view taken on the dotted line a b of Fig. 3. Fig.f3 is a top view. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the dotted line c d of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional. View taken on the dotted line e f of Fig. 8. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view on thc dotted line g h of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view on the dotted line i of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a top view with the cap and upper valve removed and showing a faucctconnected to the discharge end of the apparatus. In Figs. 2 and 5 the valves are shown respectively in the open and closed positions. I

Similar characters of reference denote similar parts. l

The apparatus comprises a conductor consisting of a vert-ical cylindrical chamber 1, having adjacent its upper end two horizontal passages 2' and 3. disposed in alinement with each other ,and extending diametrically through thc cylinder 1. The inlet-passage 2 has its inner end upwardly turned and serving as a seat for a vertically-movable valve or float 4, disposed above the inlet-opening and movable downward against its seat, preferably by gravity. The valve 4 is provided with one or more passages 5 for conveying the Huid from the lower to the uppcr'side of said valve. Said passages 5 consist, preferably, of

longitudinal grooveswhich extend the full length of the valve. The upper end of the cylindrical chamber 1 is externally screwthreaded and has fitted to it an internallyscrew-threaded cap 6, which closes the upper end of the chamber 1.

The inner end of the passage 3 is downwardly turned and serves as a seat, against whichis adapted to rest the upper side of a valve 7, which is vertically movable in the chamber 1 below the outlet-opening of the passage 3. The valve 7 is normally held in the open position by its gravity, and its upper side only is exposed to the ressure of fluid entering the chamber throug the inletpassage 2. The valve 7. is preferably of greater diameter than the valve 4,l the lower end of the' chamber 1, inwhich the valve 7 is located, being proportionately greater in diameter than the upper end of the chamber, in which is slidably mounted the valve 4. Upon the outer side of the chamber 1 and having its ends communicating, respectively, with the passages 2 and 3 u on opposite sides of thevalve-seats of sai passages is a by-pass 8, said by-pass having a vertical passage 9, the lower end of which communicates with the chamber 1 below the valve 7. Suitable means for regulating the flow through the by-pass 8 around the inlet and outlet openings. to the chamber 1 are provided. Such regulating means comprises', preferably, two needle-valves 10 and 11, constructed in the ordinary manner and adapted to close, more or less, the inlet and outlet ends of the by-pass 8. The lower end of the chamber 1 is externally screw-threaded and has fitted to it theinternally-screwthreaded upper end of a cap 12. 4 serves as a medium for resisting the flow of the Huid into the chamber 1 through the assage 2, thus creating a back pressure, w ich is communicated to the under side of the valve 7 by means of the by-pass 8 and its passage 9. 13 denotes the end of the supplyipe to which is connected the ortion of tie conductor containing the inet-passage 2. 1.4 denotes a faucet of the ordinary pattern connected by a union 15 to that part of the conductor` containing the outlet-passage 3 of the a paratus.

I will descri e now the operation of my invention. The fluidaa for instance, Waterenters the inlet-passage 2 from the supplypipe 13 and by its pressure raises the valve 4 and enters the upper end of the chamber, in

The valveing, of two'valves located intermediate said valve-openings, one valve being movable toward the inlet-valve opening by gravity and movable away from said o lening by pressure of the incoming fluidentering through the inlet-valve opening, the other valve being movable by gravity away from the outlet-valve opening, the side ofthe 4outlet-valve adjacent the outlet-opening being exposed to thepressure ofthe incoming fluid, a by-pass connected at its ends with said conductor at points located outside respectively of said inlet and outlet valve openings and having con'ununicating with it a .passage which communicateswith theconductor adjacent the side of the outlet-valve distant from the outlet-valve opening, and adjustable 1n eans for controlling the passage of fluid from the conductor into said by-pass. ,1;

3. The combination with a conductor for conveying fluid under pressure and havingtan inlet-valve opening and an outlet-valve opening, of two valves located intermediate said valve-openings, one valve being movable toward the inlet-valve opening by gravity and movable away from said opening by pressure of the incoming fluid entering through the inlet-.valve opening, the other valve being movable by gravity away from the outlet-valve opening, the side of the outlet-valve adjacent the outlet-opening being exposed to the pressure of the incoming fluid, a by-pass connected at its ends with said conductor at points located outside respectively of said inlet and outlet valve openings and having communicating with it a passage which communicates with the conductor adjacent the side of the outlet-valve distant from the outlet-valve opening, and two valves disposed one at each side of said passage for controlling the passage of fluid through said by-pass;

4. The combination with a conductor for conveying fluid under pressure and having an inlet-valve opening and an outlet-valve opening, of two valves located in said conductor, one being movable by gravity toward and adapted to close the inlet-valve opening the other valve being disposed below the Outlet-v valve opening and movable therefrom by gravity the upper side ofthe outlet-valve being exposed to the pressure of fluid entering the inlet-opening, and a conductor connected to the first-named conductor at a point below the outlet-valve and at points outside of' the said two openings respectiveliy.

5. The combination with a conductor for conveying fluid under pressure and having an inlet-valve opening and an outlet-valve openingand provided with a valve-chamber embracing said openings, of two valves in said chamber, one valve being normally held in positionclosing the inlet-opening, the other valve being movable in the chamber to a position closing the outlet-opening but normally held in the open position and having the side adjacent the outlet-opening exposed to the pressure ofthe fluid entering the chamber through the inlet opening, and a conductor connected to. the first-named eonductor at points outside thc said inlet and outlet openings respectively and connected to the said chamber at a pointadjacent the side of the outlet-valve distant from the outlet-opening. f

6. The combination with a conductor for conveying fluid under pressure and havingr an inlet-valve'opening and an outlet-valve opening and provided vwith a valve-chamber embracing said openings, of two valves in said chamber, one lvalve being normally held in position closing the inlet-opening, the other valve being movable in the chamber to a position closing the outlet-opening but normally held in the o'pen position and having the side adjacent the outlet-opening exposed to the pressure of the fluid entering the chamber through the inlet-opening, a by-pass connected at its ends with said conductor at points located outside respectively of said openings and having a passage between its ends communicating with said chamber at a point adjacent the side of the outlet-valve distant from the outlet-valve opening, and adjustableA means disposed at each side of said passage for controlling the passage of fluid through said by-pass.

7. The combination with a conductor for conveying fluid under pressure and having an upwardly-facing inlet-opening and a downwardly-facing outlet-opening and provided with a vertical valve-chamber embracing said openings, of two valves vertically movable in said'charnber, one being disposed above and movable by gravity downward to a position closing the inlet-opening, the other valve being disposed below and movable upwardly to a position closing the outletopening and movable downward therefrom by gravity, both sides of the upper valve being exposed to the pressure of the fluid entering the chamber through the inlet-opening, the upper side only of the lower valve being exposed to the fluid entering the chamber through the inlet-opening, and a conductor having its lower end connected to said chamber below the lower valve and having a bifurcated upper end connected to the firstnamed conductor upon opposite sides respectively of the said two openings.

8. The combination with a conductor for conveying fluid under pressure and having an upwardly-facing inlet-opening and' a downwardly-facing outlet-opening and provided with a vertical valve-chamber embracing said openings, of two valves vertically movable in said chamber, one being disposed above and the other below said openings respectively, the valve above the inlet-opening being movable to a position closing said open- IOO IlO

ing by gravity, and the valve below the outlet-openlng being movable downward from said opening by gravity, the outlet-valve being exposed to the pressure of the fluid entering the chamber through the inlet-o ening on its upper side only, the inlet-valve aving its upper and lower sides bot-h exposed to the iluid entering the chamber through the inletopening, a by-pass connecting with the conductor upon opposite sides respectively of said openings and having a passage communicating with the chamber below the outlet-valve, and adjustable means disposed at each side of said passage for controlling the passa e of fluid through said by-pass.

9. he combination witha conductor for conveying fluid under pressure havin r an inlet-opening and an outlet-opening, o means located in said conductor intermediate said o enings for creating a back pressure upon t e fluid passing throu h said inlet-opening, a valve movable in sai conductor to a position closing said outlet-opening, the side of said valve adjacent said outlet-opening being exposed tothe pressure of the fluid passing throu h the inlet-opening, and a by-pass connecte at its ends to said conductor upon oposite sides respectively of said openings and having a passage communicating with the conductor at a point adjacent the side ofthe valve distant from the outlet-opening.

10. The combination with a conductor for lconveying fluid under ressure havin an inlet-opening and an out et-opening, o means locatedin said conductor intermediate said openings for creating a back pressure u on the fluid passing through said nllet-opemng, a valve movable in said conductor to a osition closing said outlet-opening, the si e of said valve adjacent said outlet-o ening being exposed to the ressure of the uid passing ol fluid in said by-pass. 5

1 1. The combination with a conductor for conveying fluid under pressure having an inlet-opening and an outlet-opening, of means located in said conductor intermediate said openings for creating a back pressure upon the fluid passing through said inlet-opening, a valve movable in said conductor to a tion closing said outlet-opening, the si e of said valve adjacent said outlet-opening being exposed to the ressure of the fluid passing through the i et-opening, a by-pass connected at its ends to said conductor upon opposite sides respectively of said openings and having a passage communicating with the conductor at a point adjacent the side of the valve distant from the outlet-opening, and

OSl-

adjustable means for controlling at each side of said passagethe flow of fluid through said by-pass.

12. The combination with a conductorfor conveying fluid under pressure having an inlet-opening and an outlet-opening, of gravityactuated means located in said conductor for inlet-opening, a valve in saidconductor movable to a pos1t1on closm sa1d outlct-opeinng fluid passin through the in et-o ening opposing its'c osing movement,- an a by-pass connected to the conductory upon op osite sides respectively of'said openings an having a passage communicating with the conductor at a point where the fluid flowing through said passage will exert 'a pressure tending to vmove the valve to the closed position.

13. The combination with a conductor for conveying iluid under ressure having an inlet-opening and an out et-opening, of means located in said conductor for resisting the in- .ward ilow of the fluid through said inlet-Opeliing, a valve movable in said conductor to and from a position closing said outlet-opening, the clos1ng movement of said valve being opposed by the fluid entering through the inlet-opening, a by-pass connected to the conductor upon o posite sides respectively of said openings and aving a passage communicating with the conductor at a point where the fluid flowing through said passage will exert a pressure for forcing the valve to the closed position, and adjustable means for regulating the admission of fluid from the conductor into the by-pass.

14. The combination with a conductor for conveying fluid under pressure having an inlet-opening and an outlet-opening, of means located in said conductor for resisting the inward flow of the fluid through said inlet-opening, a valve movable in said conductor to and `from a position closing said outlet-opening, the clos1ng move ent of said valve being opposed by the llui entering through the inletopening, a by-pass connected to. the conductor upon opposite sides respectively of said openings and having a passage communicating with the conductor at a point where the fluid flowing through said passage will exert a pressure for forcing the valve to the closed position, and adjustable means for regulating the discharge of fluid from the byass intathe, .discharge portion of the conuotor.

15. The combination with a chamber having an inlet and an outlet passage having valve-seats facing upwardly and downwardly respeei` ively, of a valve vertically movable in said chamber and movable downward by gravity against the valve-seat of the inletpassage, said valve having a passage for conveying the fluid from the lower to the upper resisting the passage of the fluid through said and having gravity an the ressure of the lOO IIO

side thereof, a valve located in said chamber below the outlet-passage and movable upwardly against the seat of said out letz-passage and movable downwardv by gravity, the upper side of the second-named valve being eX- posed to the pressure ofthe fluid entering the chamber through the inlet-passage, and a bypass having itsends connected 'to the inlet and ou( let passages at opposite sides respectively of said valve-seats and having a passage connecting wit h said chamber at a point below the valve which closes the outlet-passage.

16. The combination with a chamber having an inlet and an outlet passage having valve-seat s facing upwardly and downwardly respectively, of a valve vertically movable in said chamber and movable downwardly'by gravityagainst the valve-seat of the inletpassage, said valve having a` passage for conveying the fluid from the lower to the upper side thereof, a valve located in said chamber below the outlet-passage and movable upwardly against the seat of said outlet-passage,

and movable downwardly by gravity, the upper side of the second-named valve being eX- posed to the pressure of the fluid entering the chamber through the inlet-passage, a by-pass having its ends connected to the inlet and outlet passages at opposite sides of the said valve-seats respectively and having a passage connecting with the chamber at a point below the valve which closes the outlet-passage, and adjustable means for regulating at each side of said passage the flow pf fluid through said by-pass.

17. The combination with a chamber having an inlet-passage and an outlet-passage, of

two valves movable respectively in said chamber to and from positions closing said passages, the valve for the inlet-passage normally being in the closed-posit ion, and the valve for the out let-passage resting normally in the open position, one side of the valve adjacent the outlet-passage being exposed to the pressure ofthe iluid entering the chamber through the inlet-passage, and means for conveying fluid from the inlet-passage to the chamber at a point adjacent the side of the outlet-valve distant from the outlet-passage.

18. The combination with a chamber having two open ends, of two removable closures for said open ends respectively, the chamber having an inlet-passage and an outlet-passage facing said open ends respectively, twov valves mounted in said chamber adjacent,v

said ends respectively, said valves being movable toward and from said passages respectively, the valve for the inlet-passage normally being in position closing the inlet-passage, and the other valve normally resting in the open position, the side of the outlet-valve adjacent the outlet-passage being exposed to the pressure of fluid entering the chamber through the inlet-passage, a by-pass connect- 'having an inlet-passage and an ed at its ends to said passages upon op osite sides respectively of the inner ends o said passages, and a passage connecting said bypass and the chamber at a point adjacent the side ofthe outlet-'valve distant from the outlet-passage.

19. ',lhec-ombination with a vertical chamber havmgl open u per and lower ends and provided with an i1 et-passaoe and an outletpassage, the inner. ends of which face respectlvely upwardly and downwardly, of two removable closures one for each open end Aof the chamber, a by-pass connected'at its ends to the sald two passages upon -opposite sides respectlvely of the inner ends of said passages, a' conductor connected at one end to said by-pas's and at the other end to the chamber, a valve vertically movable in said chamber below the inner end of the outletpassage and adapted to close said inner end of said passage'and disposed above the end of the conductor which is connected with the chamber, the 'side of the valve adjacent the inner end of the-outlet-passage being exposed to the pressure of fluid entering the chamber through the inlet-passage., and a valve in `said chamber vertically movable to and from a position closing the inner end of the inlet-passage.

20. The combination with a vertical chamber having open upper and lower ends and provided with an inlet and an outlet passage the inner ends of which face upwardly and downwardly respectively, of two removable closures for said open ends of the chamber, two valves inesaid chamber disposed respectively one above the inlet-passage and the other below the outlet-passage, and movable to and from positions respectively closing said passages, the valve for the outlet-passage having the side adjacent the outlet-passage exposed to the pressure of fluid entering the chamber thrugh the inlet-passage, the inlet-valve being normally movable by gravity to a position closing the inlet-passage, the' other valve being normally movable by gravity to a position away from the outlet-pas- `sage, a by-pass connected-at its ends to said passages upon opposite sides respectively of the inner ends of said passages, a conductor connecting said by-pass with the chamber at apoint below theoutlet-valve, and adjustable means for controlling the admission of fluid into said by-pass.l

21. The combination with a vertical chamber having open upper and lower ends' and outlet-passage the inner ends of which face upwardlyand downwardly respectively, of two removable closures for said open ends respectively, two valves both` movable in said chamber downwardly by gravity, one valve being disposed above and adapted to close the inner end of the inlet-passage, the other valve being disposed below and adapted when up- IOO wardly moved to close the inner end of the means for regulating at each sigle of the said xo outlet-passage, the upper side of the outletconductor the flow of fluid through said byvalve being exposed to the pressure of fluid pass. enteri the chamber through the inlet-pas- In testimony whereof I affix my signature 5 sage, a y-pass connect sald assages upon in presence of two subscribin witnesses.

posite sldes respectivel y of t e inner ends THOMAS WALKER. 0lJ said passa es, a conductor connected to Wltnesses: the chamberelow the outlet-valve and also WARREN D. HoUsE,

connected to the by-pass, and adjustable HENRY F.Ros11.:.l 

